Polybius, Histories

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Book 16 - Chapter 17

1
<w lemma="%2Apro%5Cs">Πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnodon">ἐπάνοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhs">Μεσσήνης</w> <w lemma="pepoih%3Dsqai">πεποιῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Fbin">Νάβιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frousan">φέρουσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flogon:">ἄλογον·</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fkeitai">πρόκειται</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fas">Τεγέας</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="%2Amega%2Flh">Μεγάλη</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dsqai%2F">καλεῖσθαί</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flh">πύλη</w> <w lemma="%2Ategea%3Dtis">Τεγεᾶτις</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnh">προσαγορευομένη</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsato">ἐποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnodon">ἐπάνοδον</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Fbis:">Νάβις·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="planhqei%5Cs">πλανηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggion">ἔγγιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%5C">Λακωνικὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> [<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w>] <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%3Dtis">Μεγαλοπολῖτις</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra">χώρα</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fas">Μεσσηνίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ategea%2Ftidos">Τεγεάτιδος</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don:">τελευταῖον·</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29alfeio%5Cn">Ἀλφειὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="phgh%3Ds">πηγῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="krufqe%2Fnta">κρυφθέντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexqe%2Fnta">ἐνεχθέντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kba%2Fllein">ἐκβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aluko%2Fan">Λυκόαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arkadi%2Fas">Ἀρκαδίας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cs">ποταμὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29posxw%5Cn">ἀποσχὼν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="phgh%3Ds">πηγῆς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="krufqei%5Cs">κρυφθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kpi%2Fptei">ἐκπίπτει</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmenos">φερόμενος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Ftidos">Μεγαλοπολίτιδος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lafro%2Fs">ἐλαφρός</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%3Dta">εἶτα</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsin">αὔξησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanw%3Ds">ἐπιφανῶς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aluko%2Fan">Λυκόαν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="proseilhfw%5Cs">προσειληφὼς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alousi%2Fou">Λουσίου</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%3Dma">ῥεῦμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fbatos">ἄβατος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Fs">βαρύς</w>. ?<w lemma=""></w>*
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="diaptw%2Fmata">διαπτώματα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Ffasin">πρόφασιν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pide%2Fxesqai">ἐπιδέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parai%2Fthsin:">παραίτησιν·</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fan">ναυμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fda">πατρίδα</w> <w lemma="filostorgi%2Fan">φιλοστοργίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="%2Azh%2Fnwni">Ζήνωνι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fmyaito">μέμψαιτο</w>; <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="zh%2Fthsin">ζήτησιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fcews">λέξεως</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29spou%2Fdake">ἐσπούδακε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlo%2Fs">δῆλός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="semnuno%2Fmenos">σεμνυνόμενος</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteroi">ἕτεροι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanw%3Dn">ἐπιφανῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w>;
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fhmi%5C">φημὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzein">σπουδάζειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="e%29cagge%2Fllein">ἐξαγγέλλειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> — <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%2F">μικρά</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Flletai">συμβάλλεται</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> — <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemonikw%2Ftato%2Fn">ἡγεμονικώτατόν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="metri%2Fois">μετρίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ndra%2Fsi">ἀνδράσι</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fqesqai:">τίθεσθαι·</w>
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<w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn:">δεῖν·</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fw">καλλίω</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="semnunqei%2Fh">σεμνυνθείη</w> <w lemma="politiko%5Cs">πολιτικὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fr">ἀνήρ</w>.
<head>Some of Zeno's Mistakes Due to Ignorance</head>Besides these mistakes, he says that Nabis started on his return from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> by the gate on the road to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a>. This is another absurdity; for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> is between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> and Messene, so that it is impossible that a gate at Messene should be called the "Gate to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a>." The fact is that there is a gate there called the "Tegean Gate," by which Nabis commenced his return; and this led Zeno into the mistake of supposing that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> was near Messene, which is not the fact: for the Laconian territory, as well as that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, lies between that of Messene and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a>. Lastly, he says that the Alpheus flows underground from its source for a considerable distance, and comes up near Lycoa, in Arcadia. The truth is that this river does go down underground not far from its source, and, after remaining hidden for about ten stades, comes up again, and then flows through the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, at first with a gentle stream, and then gaining volume, and watering that whole district in a splendid manner for two hundred stades, at length reaches Lycoa, swollen by the tributary stream of the Lusius, and become unfordable and deep. . . .However, I think that the points I have mentioned, though all of them blunders, admit of some palliation and excuse; for the latter arose from mere ignorance, those connected with the sea-fight from patriotic affection. But is it not then a fault in Zeno, that he does not bestow as much pains on investigating the truth and thoroughly mastering his subject, as upon the ornaments of style; and shows on many occasions that he particularly plumes himself on this, as many other famous writers do? To my mind it is quite right to take great care and pay great attention to the presentation of one's facts in correct and adequate language, for this contributes in no small degree to the effectiveness of history; still I do not think that serious writers should regard it as their primary and most important object. Far from it. Quite other are the parts of his history on which a practical politician should rather pride himself.<pb n="185" />